Cartridge ram link



Jan. 27, 1959 c. R. BELL ETAL CARTRIDGE RAM LINK Filed oct. 7. 1957 INVENTOR5 Churlc: R- 5:11 Mflchull J- Shank-on Y Bug 5115 5-. n55e1 fwlllwm United States Patent CARTRIDGE RAM LiNK Charles R. Bell, Canoga Park, Calif., and Eugene S.

Wassel, La Grange, and Mitchell Jay Shoelson, Hometown, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application October 7, 1957, Serial No. 688,787

2 Claims. (Cl. 89-35) Our invention pertains to links for ammunition belts including primers for percussive ramming and more particularly to such links provided with pistons for engagement with the cartridges.

In links for percussive ramming found in present use, the cartridge primer is exposed to the ignition of the link primer with consequent danger of premature discharge of the cartridges.

An object of our invention, therefore, is to provide percussive links disposed to ram cartridges therefrom and to protect the primers of the cartridge from the ignition of the link primers.

Another object of our invention is to provide such links with pistons for engageably moving the cartridges from the links.

A further object of our invention is to provide such links with a cup disposed to inclose the primers thereof and to distribute the force produced by the ignition of the link primers over the area of the piston.

Other aims and objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In carrying out our invention a link for inclosing cartridges With primers in a cartridge belt is provided with a cylindrical body for inclosing the cases of the cartridges and such body includes a closed end which is provided with a cup for inclosing an ignitable primer.

Pistons disposed between the cartridges and the closed ends are retained in the links after propelling the cartridges therefrom by reduced diameter sections of the links.

The cups for inclosing the link primers are provided with radial passages for distribution of the gases from the ignition over the head area of the piston.

For a more complete understanding, reference is directed to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a cartridge belt incorporating our invention with the ram link connections shown generally;

Patented Jan. 27, 1959 Fig. 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with a cartridge disposed in the link; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 after ramming.

Accordingly, links 12 connected in an ammunition belt, as shown generally at 13, are provided with cylindrical bodies 14, closed ends 16 secured thereto, and cups 18 secured to ends 16 to inclose primers 20 for percussive ramming of cartridges 24 from the links. Bodies 14 are provided with forward portions 15 of reduced diameter to releasably grip cases 22 of cartridges 24. Cases 22 include bases 28 with cartridge primers 26 disposed therein.

Pistons 30 are slidingly disposed in bodies 14 between closed ends 16 and cartridges 24 to shield cartridge primers 26 from the force of the gases produced when link primers 20 are ignited.

Cups 18 are provided with radial ports 32 to direct gases from the ignition over a substantial portion of the exposed area of pistons 30 to distribute the force of the ignition over the surfaces of bases 28.

Pistons 30 are disposed in bodies 14 for forward operation to ram the cartridges from the links responsive to the ignition, and portions 15 are disposed to block the passage of the pistons from the bodies.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

We claim:

1. A belt link for carrying a cartridge, said link comprising a cylindrical body provided with an open front end, a closed rear end and a forward section of reduced diameter for releasably gripping the cartridge, a primer ignitably disposed in said rear end, and a piston slidably disposed in said body between said rear end and said reduced diameter section for engagement with the cartridge to transfer the forces produced by said primer when ignited to the cartridge for propulsion thereof from said body.

2. A link as in claim 1 with said closed rear end including a cup portion disposed for inclosing the primer and provided with radial ports for passage of gases from the ignition therethrough to distribute the forces of the gases over the surrounding area of said piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 476,591 Archbold June 7, 1892 692,819 Bissell Feb. 11, 1902 1,399,119 Hodges Dec. 6, 1921 1,754,987 Driggs et a1. Apr. 15, 1930 

